N-SYNC Bandmates Reportedly Disappointed Over Brief VMA Performance

Justin Timberlake reunited with his boy-bandmates at Sunday night's (Aug. 25) VMAs, in a performance marking JT's prestigious Video Vanguard Award. Reunion rumors had been denied repeatedly, but expectations were high in the days leading up to the show. (Maybe 'N Sync's possible appearance had something to do with the ratings spike the VMAs received this year: With 10.1 million viewers, ratings were up dramatically, notching a 66 percent increase over last year.)

Justin brought Lance Bass, JC Chasez, Joey Fatone and Chris Kirkpartrick on stage for just two minutes of his epic 15-minute performance. Finally together, they performed snippets of 'Gone' and 'Girlfriend' before breaking into a shortened version of mega-hit 'Bye Bye Bye.' Their disappearance back under the stage made legions of 'N Sync fans cry cry cry, and the guys apparently weren't too pleased about such a brief set, either.

"They were pushing for more," a source tells Us Weekly. "While [Timberlake] was thrilled they could come for him, he didn't want the reunion to be the whole thing. They originally were told that it was going to be more of their old hits, not just 'Bye Bye Bye' -- but then Justin reworked it."

It wasn't all negativity backstage, however. The source continues, "They loved being all back together. It felt like the old days!"

For his part, Justin made sure to thank his bandmates in his acceptance speech for the Video Vanguard Award. "Half of the Moonmen I ever won, I won with ['N Sync]," the singer said. "I'm going to share this with them."